Rat trap



March 16 1926, 1,576,647

5. FURUYA RAT TRAP Filed May 25, 1925 31 'mtox Jada/2 fh/"zzya.

Patented Mar. 16, 192 6.

SA DA'HEI FURUZYA SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA.

I RAT TRAP.

Application filed May 23, 1925. Serial No. 32,386.

To all whom it may concern:

=Be it known that I, SADAHEI FURUYA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sacramento, in the county of Sacramento and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rat Traps, of which the following-is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to an improved animal trap, having. more particular reference to one particularly designed for eradicating rats and mice.

The invention relates to that form of trap used for the purpose stated, wherein the same comprises a base upon which a. spring thrown yoke is pivoted, adjacent the center, and adapted to, swing over, when released, in a manner to snap the head of the animal between the bight portion ofv the yoke and the base.

The primary object is to provide an improved easily releasable trip device, and to render the structure highly sensitive to im mediate operation, the moment that the trigger is'touched by the animal.

It follows that it is also an object to provide release means adapted to be easily and readily setfor operation and yet is such as to permit said means to be easily and readily set for operation without fear of injury to the hands by accidentaloperation of the release means.

These and. other constructional features will be more readily apparent after the following detailed description is considered.

In the accompanying drawing, forming, a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a rat trap, constructed in accordance with the present invention showing the position of the parts when the same is not in use.

Figure 2 is a side view with parts broken away and shown in section to indicate the release means more plainly.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom plan showing a portion of the release means.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the structure seen at the right in Figure 2, but ready for operation.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 1 designates the base. This is preferably formed from a. sheet of galvanized metal, which is formulated into a hollow inverted pan, as seen in'Figure 2. The opposite end walls are extended and bent outwardly at right angles to provide flanges 2 and 3. Journaled for rotation at the center of the side walls (see Figure 3) is a cross shaft 4, the free ends of which are flattened as indicated at 5. :Attachedto these flattened ends are the eyes 6, of the arms of the yoke 7. Coiled springs are connected with the base and cross shaft andserve to swingthe yokes in a direction from right to left in the drawings. The yoke is of a size to clear theends of'the base and to rest upon the flanges2and 3 at either end.

Pivotally mounted at the right hand end of the base is the improved release mechanism. This comprises a U-shaped member 8, pivoted as at 9 t-oswing through an opening formed in the adjacent end wall of the base. The side walls of this member are formed at their top with keepers 9 and at their bottoms with extensions 10, forming setting cams. The bight portion of the member is formed with an' opening 11. A post 12 is secured to the under side of the top of the base, and a rod 13 is pivoted to the post and extends beneath the top of the base, the free end thereof being bent at right angles as indicated at 14, to provide a shoul-: der, and the extremity 15' being bent at right angles to the shoulder to extend in par allelism with the body portion. Obviously, the shoulder 14 is cooperable with the apertured bight portion of the Ushaped' member Figure 4:-

An L-shaped bracket 16 is fastened to the center of the top of the base, and a trip rod 17 is fulcrumed between its ends in an aperture in the upstanding part of the bracket. At one end, the trip rod is formed with a bait hook 18 and the opposite end is downturned as indicated at 19, the free end being formed. with an eye 20, connected to the intermediate part of the arm 13. Owing to the eccentric pivot, the Ushaped member 8 normally drops back and beneath the top of the base, as shown in Figure 2, when the top is inoperative. However, upon grasping the yoke 7 and swinging it over from left to right, in Figure 2, the bight portion of the yoke is brought to bear against the extending cam extension 10, thus rocking the U-shaped member 8 upon its pivot, to project the keepers 9 through the opening in the adjacent end wall. Now, by allowing the yoke to return or move upward slightly,

it is disposed beneath these keepers and held by reason of the fact that the shoulder 14 of the arm 13 has, during this time, disposed itself behind the bight of the U- shaped member 8, as shown in Figure 2.

The parts are now in the position plainly shown in Figure 1. Assuming that bait has been placed upon the hook 18, it is now obvious that upon depressing the baited end of the trip rod 17, the same will be rocked upon its pivot, in a manner to exert an upward pull upon the arm 13, thus moving the shoulder 14 upwardly to permit the spring tension of the yoke 7 to act to cause the U-shaped member to swing to the position shown in Figure 2 and release the yoke.

The feature to be particularly emphasized, is the cam action produced upon the U-shaped member, which serves to automatically set the same for operation without fear of permitting the yoke to be swung accidentally over and injure the operators hands as is-liable to happen with the type of trap now marketed and patented.

The structure is such that the release .mechanism automatically sets itself with precision, the cam action rocking the U shaped member out and at the same time causes'the shoulder 1 1 of the arm 18 to snap behind and in place to hold said member in such position. The U-shaped member is so balanced, owing to the eccentric pivot, that a very light tap or pull upon the trip rod will serve to disengage the shoulder and allow the trap to operate.

It is thought that the description taken in connection with the drawings will enable persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates to obtain a clear understanding of the same. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

While the preferred embodiment of the in the size, shape, and arrangement of parts coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to, if desired.

I claim:

1. An animal trap comprising a base having an apertured wall, a spring actuated yoke pivotally connected with the base and having its bight arranged to be positioned adjacent to said wall and the outer side thereof, a swingable release member connected with the base and having a projection adapted to be moved outwardly through the aperture in said wall and also having below said projection a cam arranged to be engaged by the bight of the yoke, a retaining rod for said release memher, and an animal actuated trip connected with said rod.

2. An animal trap comprising a base having an apertured wall, a spring actuated yoke pivotally connected with the base and having its bight arranged to be positioned adjacent to said wall and the outer side thereof, a swingable release member connected with the base and having a projection adapt-ed to be moved outwardly through the aperture in said wall and also having below said projection a cam arranged to be engaged by the bight of the yoke, a retaining rod for said release member, and an animal actuated trip connected with said rod; the said release member being of U-form and having an aperture in its bight, and the said retaining rod extending through said aperture and having a shoulder adapted in one position to bear against the inner side of the bight and in another position to pass through said aperture.

In testimony whereof I affix mv signature.

SADAHEI FURUYA. 

